Friday Harbor Film Festival (FHFF) is thrilled to announce that the 14th Annual festival will light up San Juan Island October 22–25, 2026 — an extended weekend built to entertain, inspire, and enlighten through powerful documentaries, filmmaker conversations, and island community. The festival will fill San Juan Community Theatre and Palace Theatre, showing 67 feature and short films, plus the Young Filmmakers Showcase. FHFF is collaborating with SJIMA for a special combined gallery and documentary event on Thursday evening! All passes include free entry to SJIMA Oct. 23-26! Over 5o filmmakers will be present talk with audience members and to hold Q&As following their documentaries.  Pre-recorded interviews with filmmakers who can't attend will follow the rest of the films.

What makes FHFF different?  Unlike most film festivals, FHFF is built around direct connection between filmmakers and audiences. Every single film is followed by a Q&A — with the attending filmmaker whenever possible, a panel of local experts when they can't be there in person, or a pre-recorded conversation filmed by FHFF Producer and Host Norris Palmer just ahead of the festival. It's this filmmaker-forward approach that keeps audiences and filmmakers coming back year after year.

The full lineup and schedule is available at fhff.org.  Program Guides are available in many businesses on San Juan Island.  The interactive Program Guide is also available on the website.

The weekend kicks off with our Opening Night Gala, where attendees mingle with visiting filmmakers ahead of a weekend of storytelling and the presentation of our Lifetime Achievement Award. Friday also brings the Young Filmmakers Showcase, spotlighting the next generation of documentary voices. Throughout the weekend, audience members rate every film they see, with winners awarded by popular vote across all three categories — plus overall Best Short and Best Feature. Don't miss the Filmmakers Forum, a free, unticketed conversation about the craft of documentary filmmaking hosted by director Amy Herdy — it fills up fast, so arrive early. And we close out the weekend with the beloved Audience Choice Awards, where this year's winners are announced live.

Passes and single tickets are on sale now online at fhff.org.  After buying your pass/tickets, reserve seats to see the shows you want! 

• Patron Pass —$375: This sharable pass for 2 people includes entry to every screening and event, including the Opening Night Gala.
• All-Access Pass —$225: This sharable pass for 1 person includes entry to every screening and event, including the Opening Night Gala.
• 6-Pack Pass -- $90 for visitors, $78 for SJ County residents: 6 tickets to your choice of screenings on any day. It's sharable. (No Gala Party included)
• Day Pass -- $60: 4 tickets on any one day. It's shareable. (No Gala Party included)
• Single Ticket -- $17 in advance. $20 at the door.

Don’t miss this spectacular annual event!